C-A 49 · Departmental Records, Tomos IX–XIV

Manuscript scans: this volume on the Internet Archive (digitized microfilm of the Savage transcripts).

Printable finding aid (PDF) — the full one-line record list with provenance, for offline use and circulation.

Notable documents

• 1842-05-14 · Jimeno → Prefecto del 2º distrito — (2 docs) 'placer de oro' — the Government, surprised not to have been notified of the DISCOVERY OF A GOLD PLACER in the [LA/2nd] District [= Placerita Canyon, Mar 1842, the first documented California gold], orders a detailed report on the mineral ground & the miners' arrangements with the placer-owner for the statistics to Mexico; +… (orig. p. XIII·69–70) manuscript scan ↗
• 1845-08-06 / 08-13 / 08-19 / 08-23 · Pico & Olvera (Asamblea) → Govt — the 1845 US-war scare & militia mobilization — the Comandante General's note (6 Aug) reports that, per an official dispatch received via a warship that arrived at Monterey, war had probably been declared by Mexico on the United States 'á virtud de la agregación de Texas'; laid before the Assembly in extraordinary session, which approved… (orig. p. XIV·154–156) manuscript scan ↗
• 1842-08-12 · Jimeno → Prefecto del 2º distrito — (2 docs) [re a judge]; + acknowledges the report on the order established in the gold placer, ordering continued reports on the placer's yields & order [Placerita gold follow-up to #1000] (orig. p. XIII·75–76) manuscript scan ↗
• 1843-04-03 · Micheltorena → Administradores de todas las Misiones (circular) — (2 docs) CIRCULAR ordering ALL missions handed back to the Reverend Fathers [the comprehensive Micheltorena mission-restoration decree], distributed to the administrators of San Diego, San Juan Capistrano, San Fernando, San Buenaventura, Santa Bárbara, Santa Inés, La Purísima, Santa Clara, San José & San Antonio… (orig. p. XIII·98–99) manuscript scan ↗
• 1845-03-04 · Pico & Olvera → Jefes de la División del Norte — the Assembly finalizes the formal accusation against Gen. Micheltorena (that he 'attacked the fundamental laws of the Republic' + maladministration), to elevate to the Supreme Government; requests clarifying reports [✓scan-verified(n449,2026-07-09):'formalizar la acusación…haber atacado Micheltorena las leyes fundamentales de la… (orig. p. XIV·13–14) manuscript scan ↗
• 1845-07-14 / 07-26 / 08-18 · Pico & Olvera (Asamblea) → Congreso General — the Assembly's initiatives to Mexico — (14 Jul) asks Congress for 'leyes excepcionales para gobernar el Departamento'; (26 Jul, approved 25th under the Bases Orgánicas) seeks to adopt the *sistema Federal*, 'quitando á la Carta de 824 la ingerencia qe le daba al poder central en lo peculiar de los Estados' and to make reforms 'para… (orig. p. XIV·152–154) manuscript scan ↗
• 1845-07-10/11 · Srio → Hugo Reid / Juan Pérez (Sn Gabriel) / E. Véjar / Juan Forster — the San Gabriel Indians' fear of enslavement — Juan Pérez to present himself 'con tres ó cuatro indios de los más influyentes de su Misión, para disuadirlos de la idea qe tienen de qe el Gobno quiere tenerlos en esclavitud' [the neophytes read the 1845 lease as re-enslavement]; ⭐⭐ Mission San Juan Capistrano and its belongings handed… (orig. p. XIV·215–218) manuscript scan ↗
• 1831[?]-01-06 · Echeandía (decree) — 'Ley sobre Administración de Misiones' — Echeandía's full secularization reglamento, arts. 1–33 (complete; see Entry 3): missions→pueblos per the 1813 Cortes law; San Gabriel & San Carlos first (elected *comisarios de policía*), then art. 24 extends it to all remaining missions; detailed land/livestock/tool *repartimiento* to neophytes,… (orig. p. 150–168) manuscript scan ↗
• 1840-04-07 · Casarín → Tiburcio Tapia (Prefecto del 2º distrito) — 'Conspiración de extranjeros' = the 1840 GRAHAM AFFAIR — the Governor's 8 Apr alarm that resident foreigners intend to conspire; José Castro to round up all illegally-introduced foreigners (except the married/settled/employed), the northern forces mobilized, deportees embarked on Aguirre's national ship, all 'con consulta y aprobación de… (orig. p. XI·58–61) manuscript scan ↗
• 1840-09-01 · Casarín → [John] Sutter — appoints Sutter Encargado de Justicia & Representative of the Government on the Sacramento-River frontier (New Helvetia) — political authority + justice, to check US-adventurer robberies, wild-Indian incursions & the Columbia [HBC] companies' force, 'haciendo uso de las armas en caso necesario' (see Expanded Entry 4) (orig. p. XI·84–86) manuscript scan ↗
• 1840-04-22 · Alvarado → Ministro del Interior (México) — 'Conspiración de Extranjeros' — reports that the FIRST warning of the foreign (North-American) conspiracy came from Fr. Narciso Durán, who had it from a foreigner under the seal of confession and therefore refused to name the informant (see Expanded Entry 5) (orig. p. XI·221–222) manuscript scan ↗
• 1840-12-15 · Casarín → Ministro del Interior (México) — 'Rusos en California' — relays the RAC governor's note (23 Nov, from San Francisco) that the Emperor has consented to ABANDON ROSS and prompt measures will follow (see Expanded Entry 6) (orig. p. XI·229–230) manuscript scan ↗
• 1841 · Alvarado → Ministro del Interior (México) — responds (to an oficio of 11 March) that he will take possession of the Point of Ross as soon as formally notified, acting with the Military Commander [the Mexican claim to Fort Ross on Russian withdrawal; pairs with #756] *(faint scan; verify date/wording)* (orig. p. XII·117–120) manuscript scan ↗
• 1841-11-12 · Alvarado → Ministro del Interior (México) — 'Reclamantes ingleses' — the English corvette 'Curacoa' under Capt. F. Jones arrived Monterey 8 Nov to claim indemnities for the deported British subjects, named: Carmichael, Anderson, O'Brien, Clark, Price, Alberni, Chapel, Langher, Morris (see Expanded Entry 7) (orig. p. XII·125–127) manuscript scan ↗
• 1841-07-02 · Alvarado → Comandante General — 'Establecimiento de Ross' — transcribes Mexico's Supreme order that the Department NOT take possession of Ross until the Russian Commander gives notice [the handover protocol; cf. #879, #756] (orig. p. XII·148) manuscript scan ↗
• 1842-01-11 · Alvarado → Ministro de Relaciones (México) — major dispatch (topic-header: Tulares; fleet; Dept. commerce; American-adventurer & wild-Indian threats; the Alvarado–Vallejo rift; 'Asuntos de Ross'; ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Compra de propiedades Rusas por Sutter') — the Fort Ross sale to Sutter (Tsar's evacuation order; Rotchev's offer to Mexico declined; Ross evacuated 19 Dec 1841, 'ya no tremola el… (orig. p. XIII·16–23) manuscript scan ↗
• 1842-06-03 · Alvarado → Ministro de Relaciones (México) — 'Abandono de Ross por los Rusos. Desavenencias entre el Gobernador y la Comandancia General' — recaps the Russian abandonment; his plan to place a troop detachment to fly the Mexican flag & assert the boundary to the 42nd parallel (long held by the Russians); the Vallejo rift (no reply from him); vows to bar anyone from acquiring rights… (orig. p. XIII·28–30) manuscript scan ↗
• 1831-06-07[?] · Victoria → José Antonio Argüello — Order to form an *averiguación sumaria* on the violent, tumultuous deposition (despojo) of Los Ángeles Alcalde Vicente Sánchez by various *vecinos*; examine those named in the 20-signature *información*; charges the regidores Juan Bautista Alvarado & José Tico [names as written — verify J.B. Alvarado identity] with having joined the… (orig. p. 54–55) manuscript scan ↗
• 1842-09-09 · Jimeno → Mariano Bonilla (San Luis Obispo admin.) — (2 docs) distribute plots of land (suertes) to the Indians among the vacant mission lands (per the latest plan); + summon Cané to answer the Indians' complaints & account for mission livestock at his ranch (orig. p. XIII·78–79) manuscript scan ↗
• 1843-02 · Gov. Micheltorena → Prefecto del 3er distrito — re Comisario accounts & Padre Fray Gabriel González's property; + on the district's mission lands — SUSPENDS all further alienation until further order & requires prior acquirers to revalidate their titles [Micheltorena's 1843 mission-restoration policy] (orig. p. XIII·81) manuscript scan ↗
• 1843-03-01 · Micheltorena → Administrador de San Gabriel — (2 docs) orders him to hand San Gabriel's goods & administration back to Fray Tomás Estenaga [Micheltorena's mission restoration] (orig. p. XIII·84–85) manuscript scan ↗
• 1843-03-31 · Micheltorena → Administrador de San Luis Rey — orders him to hand San Luis Rey's administration & goods to Fray José María Zalvidea (inventory by Judge Santiago Argüello & Cmdr Félix Valdez) [Micheltorena mission restoration] (orig. p. XIII·72) manuscript scan ↗
• 1843-03-31 · Micheltorena → Comisario de la Aduana de Monterey — pay José M. Castañares $203.5 for supplying the 100 men under arms 'en los días de la invasión Americana' [= the Commodore T. ap C. Jones seizure of Monterey, Oct 1842] (orig. p. XIII·75) manuscript scan ↗
• 1843-05-10 · Micheltorena → Sub-Comisario José Abrego — [5 docs] pay José Castro (Monterey cmdr) to distribute among the men on campaign against the indios bárbaros; a $200 payment; disallows $85 to Víctor Prudon & ~$200 to Capt. Castañeda; + $300 (SB Comisaría) from the Comandancia; Francisco Pico's clerk resignation; cash audit (orig. p. XIII·103–105) manuscript scan ↗
• 1843-05-09 · Micheltorena → Agustín Olvera — hand San Juan Capistrano's administration to Fray Tomás Estenaga [mission restoration] (orig. p. XIII·105–106) manuscript scan ↗

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